Hulsey, Sarah: Allochronologies

Allochronologies explores alternate notions of time, all conceivable according to the laws of science, that do not adhere to our ordinary experience. This piece takes some of the more surprising ideas of modern physics (multiple universes, a universe that oscillates, reversal of time’s arrow) and translates them into a multi-volume artist book. Each volume takes one kind of chronology and, using fragments of fiction by some of the great 20th century writers, creates a book that physically embodies that conception of time. Letterpress printed using Univers monotype and foundry type, images printed relief from polymer plates.

Edition of seventy-five: 15 deluxe three-volume sets lettered A-O, fifty three-volume sets numbered 1-50, and ten individual volumes numbered i-x. Excerpted texts include “April March” from “A Survey of the Works of Herbert Quain” by Jorge Luis Borges, (1941), translated by Andrew Hurley; “t zero” by Italo Calvino (1967), translated by William Weaver; and “2 June 1905” from Einstein’s Dreams by Alan Lightman (1993). Deluxe copies bound by Shelter Bookworks, Orange, Massachusetts. Standard copies bound by Sarah Hulsey Studios with production work by Sihan Mia Zhu. Dimensions: 10” x 6.75” x 1.75”